Xavier vs Baylor

After winning both of our games last night we’re now 5-1 (+3 units) in this year’s NCAA Tournament, and there’s a game tonight that I think presents an opportunity. Xavier is a 10 seed, but they’re probably the most talented 10 seed the tournament has seen in quite a while. Coming into the season they were expected by many to be one of the top 10 or 15 teams in the country, but their season really unraveled after the brawl against Cincinnati that led to suspensions of several of the players involved. They seem to have finally put it all back together just in time though; regular season losses no longer matter and it seems like reaching the postseason has rejuvenated the Musketeers. That being said, I understand why Baylor is a 6-point favorite in this game. They’ll have a clear length and athleticism advantage in the frontcourt, and Brady Heslip shoots the 3-pointer as well as anyone in the country not named John Jenkins. However, Heslip is going to have serious issues on the defensive end, because Xavier’s guard tandem of Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons can really score. They combine for over 30 points a game and they’ve controlled the action in both of Xavier’s wins in this tournament. I think they’ll keep the Musketeers hanging around, and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they pulled off the upset. I like Xavier and the points tonight.